posted Feb 5th, 2017 - It is not only Arizona Airspeed watching the best 4-way teams in the world posting their scores at events where they don't face up with them. SDC Rhythm XP is just as interested in the performances of the potential Airspeed opponents as the reigning U.S. 4-way champions are.

The reason is very logical and very simple: Rhythm plans to be the U.S. national team and compete for the FAI medals at world championships.

The 2017 season brings an opportunity to SDC Rhythm XP that is probably the most promising one in the history of the team. Rhythm goes into the second year with the same lineup, while Airspeed has two new team members (Ari Perelman, videographer David French) and the three returning members in new slots.

SDC Rhythm XP is serious about the goal to win the USPA Nationals this year and compete for the U.S. delegation in Australia 2018. The Sun Path Products NSL News made the annual trip to Skydive Sebastian last week, where Rhythm was in the middle of a winter training camp.

The Rhythm members made clear during the NSL Live Talk that they are not only traveling once again to this year's World Challenge 2017 for a nice vacation at the biggest indoor world championship in the history of the sport.

They said that the Bedford event is an opportunity to meet the other best teams in the world that they eventually have to defeat if they want to become 4-way world champions.

USPA Nationals 2008		1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	Total	Avg
Rank	Advanced Class	2,10,15	F,C,3,H	J,O,4,N	20,M,E,11	13,12,L	9,A,19	18,22,D	21,17,P	6,14,Q	B,1,G,7	Total	Avg
1	CSC Rhythm XP	15	19	22	16	12	21	14	16	16	18	169	16.9
2	Centerline XP	12	18	18	17	13	13	13	12	11	15	142	14.2
3	Perris Katalyst	11	16	17	13	13	15	10	12	12	14	133	13.3

Rhythm has a combination of both challenges on the meet agenda. The first showdown with Arizona Airspeed takes place at the Paraclete XP Indoor Championship at the end of February, followed by the outdoor season opener in DeLand, the Shamrock Showdown 2017.

The World Challenge then offers the confrontation with the best international 4-way teams in the world. An additional outdoor competition at Paraclete in June will probably complete the 2017 meet experience before the world meet qualifier at the USPA Nationals 2017 in Perris.

The training camp in Sebastian was the second one this year, and the live interview with the complete lineup was recorded after the completion of last Tuesday's training routine.

USPA Nationals 2016		1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	Total	Avg
Rank	4-way Advanced	20,D,E,22	M,9,5	12,8,7	H,L,16,15	F,A,N,J,17	G,6,3	K,B,Q,P,C	18,10,11	13,21,4	14,1,19	Total	Avg
1	SDMW NEXT	16	21	12	13	26	16	31	11	14	9	169	16.9
2	2nd Generation	13	17	13	15	20	14	24	11	13	10	150	15.0
3	AF Bachelor Party	13	19	13	15	18	14	20	11	12	12	147	14.7

There is one change in SDC Rhythm XP's lineup this year. Coach Shannon Pilcher is not on camera at the same time any longer. Rhythm has a new team videographer.

Adam Elkin has committed to step up after filming USPA's Advanced Class gold medalist last year, SDMW Next. Steve Lefkowitz was coaching the team, and he knew about the reliable camera work, which contributed to the successful Next 2017 season with the highest Advanced Class winning average. SDMW Next tied Rhythm's 2008 numbers (16.9) at last year's national championships.

Steve Lefkowitz and Adam Elkin confirmed that SDMW Next continues with training and competition in 4-way Open this year. However, their 2016 videographer has set his goals higher now - he wants to compete at a world championship and win a medal in Australia...